Safety oil-gage for internal-combustion engines.



l. C. MCMUHRAY.

SAFETY OIL GAGE FOR INTERNAF- COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLiCATlON FILED MAR,18, X916- Patented Apr. 8, 1917,-

Fig. l)

AT Ty@ John C. Mc Murray bwwwkw UnjiTED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

JOHN'C, MicMUIR/RAY, 0F EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAFETY OIL-GAGE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3,1917.

. Appnc'ation ined March 1s, 1916. serial No. 85,195.

i v To all lwhom it may concern:

. of'an automobile engine or to the reservoin- Be it known that I, JOHN C. MGMURRAY,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of East Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Safety Oil-Gages for Internal-Conn bustion Engines, ofwhich the following description, in connection with "the accom'- panying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic safety oil gagesfor internal combustion engines andv is particularly adapted for use in the type of engines which are used in automobiles, motorl boats, etc., in

which the lubrication of. the' wrist pins of the crank 'shafts'the transmission, etc.,-is eii'ected by the splash system and in which it necessary that the oil in' the receptacle shall lotlbe exhausted below a predetermined eve.

ln the usual types ofvengines the oil for lubricating the engine is contained in the crank case and in'such instances it is important that the depth of oil in the case shall be such as to permit the wrist pin of each crank to enter the oil as'it reaches the downward limit of its stroke. lr" the oil in the receptacle becomes exhausted or undesirably low the parts of the engine will not be properly lubricated, resulting in undue wear and injury to the mechanism.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective device which may be readily attached to the crank case of any lubricating system used in connection with an internal combustion engine 'and which will automatically signal continuously when the level of oil Jfalls below a cer tain point and which will inally interrupt the ignition circuit ci' the engine sov as to stop the engine before the oil in the crank case or reservoir has become so nearly eX- hausted as to permit undue wear upon the parts of the engine. 4 'y Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character with means whereby the levelof the oil in the crank case can be seen so that in su' l* ing oil to the crank case a proper a t may be furnished and waste avoided. y

Other objects of the invention will more `fully appear from the follcwingdescription case` and which contains the regulating mechanism comprising my invention,

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal central sectional view of the same, and,

Fig. l is a vertical median transverse central view of the same.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings as applied to a usualtype of engine of which the crank shaft i and the crank case 2 are ,shown, together with the engine cylinders' in proper relation thereto.

The crank case 2 is usually constructed in two superposed sections, said sections having respectively flanges 4 and 5 which are secured together by bolts 6. Oil is maintained to a suitable deptn in thecrank case and` this depth is ordinarily indicated by two more pet cocks located in suitable apertures? and 8 in the side or side and J v from t--e uppermost downwardly until the oil 'iiowiiig from a pet cock, indicates that it is below the level of the oil.

These net cocks arelocated at a place which not very convenient -of access and thus ermining the level L ses' an. auxiliary reserpet cocks are successively l,opened v er consisting oitwo coinbosses 12, 13 having screw threaded'iriternal Aapertures adapted to be connected by suit@ plementary hollow casing members 10, 11

having laterally extending flanges/1()x and 11x adapted tol-be secured together by screws, bolts or other suitable fasteners.` The member 1() is provided with laterally extending able pipes 14, 15 to the holes 7 and 8 in which the' pet cocks above. described are usually seated. 'llhe conductors 14, 15 are preferably of soft 'copper` which may easily be bent so that the device may be fitted to any usual type of crank case.

l1`he boss 12 may also beprovided with an aperture having a screw threaded wall 16 to which the lower. end of the lsupporting rod 17 maybe secured, the upper end of lsaid rod 17 being passed through one of the holt holes in lianges 4, 5 and secured thereto by Set nuts 18, 19 on said rod Vand abutting opw posite sides of said flanges 4,v 5. The other half 11 of the receptacle may be provided conveniently with an extension `or boss 20 having an annular seat 21 adapted to support a gage glass 22. The gage glass 22 may conveniently be secured in the seat 21 by a cap plate 23 having a bolt 24 extending downwardly therethrough, its screw threaded lower end engaging the complementary7 screw threaded wall of an aperture centrally disposed in said boss 20, A shield 25 may be provided to protect the front and rear sides of the gage glass 22 and may conveniently be supported by upper'and lower flanges engaged bythe clamping nuts of the bolt 24. 'The casing members 10 and 11 are delsirably provided with oppositely disposed inwardly extending lugs 26, 27 apcrtured to form bearings for a pivot 23 having an arm 29 to which a float 30 maybe secured by screws 31 or other suitable fastenings.

The float preferably is made of oil soaked pine or other light material of the desirable specific gravity. The Aarm 29 is provided .at its opposite'end with an extension 32 adapted to form, when the float is depressed, an electric contac't with the sharp end 33 of a contact member or terminal 34 which is seated in an insulated bearing 35 which is vembraced by the walls of complementary recesses in the halves 10,11 of the casing. rlhe upper end of the terminal 34 is provided with the usual nuts 36, 37 adapted to clamp upon a conductor 38 in the circuit of the ignition system. y A

A second similar terminal 39 may also be provided for controlling a. signal light.

.This terminal may likewise be mounted i'n merma The current throughvthe terminal 39 of the signal .circuit may conveniently be controlled by a lever 45 connected to astud 46 mounted in bosses 47 vdepending from the upper walls of the casing members 10 and 11, the lever 45 being provided with' a weight 49 which is adapted to maintain the end of thesame in contact with the arm 29 0f the float 30.

The opposite end 50 of the lever 45 is positioned to contact with the'sharp end 41 of the terminal 39 when the floatbecomes suflciently depressed, and beforethe contact member 32- engages the end 33' of the terminal 34 which leads to the ignition circuit.4

As before stated the terminals 34 and 39 lt has beenfound diilicult to control thesecircuits in devices of this character by reason of the factt'hat the contact 'members are usually covered with oil which has a high resistance to the passage of the electric current. metallic casing with the arm 29 of the float by a flexible wire 53 and have likewise connected the arm 4.5 with the casing by a similar wire 54 so 'that' the electric .circuit through these members will be complete even though a film of oil be'formed around the bearing of the pivots 23 and 46.

1n the operation of the device the recepn tacle is attached in the manner above described to the apertures 7 and 8 in the crank case from which the usual petcocks have been removed. Oil is supplied until it shows the proper height in the gage 22, the crank case being at that time properly lled.

`When the engine is in use the supply of oil will gradually diminish and after it has diminished below a certain level the float will begin to fall. When the float has fallen to a predetermined point the arm 50 of the lever 45 will engage the terminal'39 of the signalingcircuit and will complete this circuit so that a .light conveniently located within th'e vision of the operator, as upon the dash or front portion ofthe machine will signal that the oil is getting low. Upon further exhaustionof the oil in the crank case'the float in the auxiliary receptacle will be lowered so that eventually the end 32 of the float arm 29 will engage the sharp end 33 of the terminal 34 thereby connecting the same into the ignitioncircuit and lshort circuiting it or performing such other function as the change in circuit by this loop is intended to accomplish.

rllhe ends of the terminals 34 and 39 which extend into the float chamber are preferaby knife edges or points and since these ends 1 have therefore'connected the o ff are engaged by conductors upon which the float 3()v and the weight 49 have relatively long leverage any oil film between the contacting members is easily excluded so that a perfect contact is obtained and vthe operativeness of the signaling device and controller is insured.

While I have thus described a preferred p embodiment of my invention it will be readily understood that it lmay be constructed in other forms within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters l3atent is;

l. An automatic safety controller for an internal combustion engine having'an electrical ignition system and provided With a lubricating system including an oil e011-,

taining reservoir, said controller comprising an auxiliary receptacle, means orsupportl.. g the same below the normal level the on in said reservoir means or'nermitting free communication between A said aiviliary -receptacle whereby said will be normally u i itained receptacle7V an insulated electrical terminal for the ignition circuit having a contacting member extending into said auxiliary receptacle, a float in said receptacle9 an electrigcally grounded lever having its long ar connected 'to said iioat and its short arm positioned to engage said terminal contacting meinbervupon the settling or the float, whereby 'the ignition system of the engine will be rendered inellective and the engine stopped when the oil in thereservoir has sunk to a predetermined level.

2. in automatic safety indicator and controller for an internal combustion engine having an electrical ignition system and @vided with a lubricating system includ- J an oil containing res'eivoir'A said indis 7 .1- orand controller comprising an auxiliary receptacle adapted` to be secured to said w l" J- M -e s l l reeel von to cowonnicate on sulated ele cceotacies?` one o Aected 'to signal a r terminal 'to the igi ginej a in ie, means op- 'loat adapted to engage the Y d signal circuit d thereby Jain' si arm secured ed u callan ion oi o" combustion' eng ignition system a rewith.) infprovided with a crank case containing oil, said indicator and controller comprising' a detachable auxiliary receptacle freely communicating with said crank case, whereby the same level of oil is maintainedin said receptacle and said crank case, insulated .electrical conductors connected respectively toa signaling device and to the ignition system, and having contact members extending into said receptacle, a float in said receptacle and independent electrically grounded levers operable by the settling olf 'said float to predetermined levels, one of said levers being adapted to engage the contact member of the signaling device and thereby maintain a circuit through the signaling device and the other lever operable upon further settling of the float to engage thecontact member of the terminal of the ignition systemv and render inellective the ignition. system.

i .automatic safety indicator for lubricating systems ci internal combustion engines comprising an auxiliary receptacle having doat chamber adapted to be positioned in communicative relation to alubricant receptacle, said auxiliary receptacle consisting of two hollow complementary casing' members having lsuitably insulated electrical terminals adapted to be connected in different electric circuits a iioat having a pivotally mounted arm adapted operatively to engage one of said terminals and means also operable by said float when the same descends below predetermined levels l J- l ',L eiectric circuits clam;

ent edges mais lia-Jim si;

i'ioat chamber means operable by float when the same descends below predetermined levels successively to engage the oil the.

es ci said terminals a oi signals may be given the lek cock openings in said crank case to estab-lv lisha free circulation of the .oiltrom'thei crank case through said auxiliary recep 7. An automatic safety device for lubricating systems of internal combustion engines comprising an auxiliary receptacle having a float chamber adapted to be posilubricating systems for internal combustion tioned in communicative relation to a lubricant receptacle, said auxiliary reservoir consistingoic two hollow, complementary casing members7 means for securing the saine' together, an insulated electrical terminal clamped between the contacting edges of said casing members, a lever pivotally mounted within said casing and having a short arm .positioned 4to engage said ter minal, anda float connected to" the long arm of said lever adapted when the fluid ins'aid reservoir is above apredetermined level to maintain the lshort arm of said lever out-otA contact with said terminal and means forv connecting said lever in the circuit containing said terminal.

8. ln an Aautomaticsafety controller for internal combustion' engines having an elec?. trical ignition system andprovided with a A lubricating'system including an oil `containH ing crank case, vsaid controller comprising l a closed receptacle having an upwardly extending gage glass, and provided with. means for establishing freel communication with said crank case, means for supporting said auxiliary receptacle from said crank case beow the normal level'of the oil in said crank case whereby said oil level willappear in said gage glass, an insulated electrical terminal of the. ignition circuit extending l through the upper wall of said auxiliary receptacle and having a contact member Within said receptacle, a lever pivotally mounted within said receptacle having a short arm adapted to cooperate Vwith saidterminal and a long arm provided with a main-ia lloat and means for pivotally mounting said lever whereby the oil in fsaid auxiliary receptacle will normally maintain the short arm of the .lever out of engagement with the contact member of said terminal but when the oil in said receptacle fallsbelow a pie determined level will cause engagement of said lever with the contact member of the lterminal and render the ignition circuit inedective. v -9. An automatic safety indicator for engines comprising, an auxiliary receptacle `having a float chamber adapted to be posi- 'tioned in communicative relation with a lubricant receptacle7 said auxiliary receptacle comprising two llanged hollowcomplementary casing members provided withv opposi-tely disposed inwardly extending bosses, means for clamping the flanges of said complemen-tary casing members together, an insulated electrical terminal adapted to be connected in the ignition system of the engine' extending through the top of the casing in proximity to said bosses7 afloat lever pivotally mounted in said bosses having a short of said float to operate a signal, means forv adjustably supporting said auxiliary receptacle ,from the flanges of the crank casing,

and means adapted to be connected to the usual pet cock opening in said crank case tov establish a free circulation of oil fromthe crank case throngh said auxiliary receptacle. ln testimony whereof, l have signed my name, to lthis specification.

JHN C. MGMURRAY. 

